Air Fryer

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KateR
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Air Fryer

Post by KateR » Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:25 pm

so recently bought one, tried a couple of times but not convinced yet.

Has anyone cooked anything in one of these and found it really good and better than a normal oven.

Usually hubby will just do fish in the microwave, purely for convenience and being lazy, I did do him fish in this and he said it was really good but he couldn't be bothered with all the faff

rayzer
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by rayzer » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:15 pm

I have one Kate, I don't use the oven any more. It's brilliant.
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Marney&Mee
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Marney&Mee » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:33 pm

Thought this was going to be about a new German signing...
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huw.Y.WattfromWare
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:33 pm

Not sure if I’m on the same machine but we now air fry our chips and they are surprisingly good.
Couldn’t use ours to replace an oven is why I’m confused.

kentonclaret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by kentonclaret » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:33 pm

I would have thought that any method of cooking food will take longer and involve more "faff" than popping it in a microwave?

If your hubby is not converted to the Air Fryer by the improved quality of the food put in front of him it would seem that the microwave is there to stay.

Wellsy1882
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Wellsy1882 » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:40 pm

Had 1..got shut
Made chips taste horrid

Dark Cloud
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Dark Cloud » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:49 pm

Ours sits not doing a lot for months on end. It actually makes nice chips/wedges, but then again you can just take some out the freezer and stick em in the oven!
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KateR
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by KateR » Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:56 pm

funnily enough I can't remember that last time I had chips so it's going to be of no help to me there, however I regularly do potatoe wedges in the oven so will give them a go in the air fryer and see if they notice the difference.

Hubby loves his microwave so that is definitely going nowhere, mostly for defrosting and heating, he like when things are made such as curry and or stews for example in the slow cooker that a "batch" is made and the freezer is usually full of these so dont see this AF being any help in that department.

Thank you for the comments and yes I can't see this replacing my oven either.

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by dougcollins » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:36 pm

The microwave is probably the most convenient way, and absolutely the worst way, to cook anything.
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IanMcL
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by IanMcL » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:40 pm

What does fried air taste like?

Do you add anything?

Vegas Claret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Vegas Claret » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:41 pm

yep we have one, use it for loads of things and it's superb

KateR
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by KateR » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:44 pm

Vegas Claret wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:41 pm
yep we have one, use it for loads of things and it's superb
any particular food/dishes, any recipes you can share of particular favorites?

Jambounchained
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Jambounchained » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:49 pm

Got a tefal actifry - it’s superb!

chorleyhere
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by chorleyhere » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:51 pm

Pre heat the air fryer
1/ Cut potato wedges
2/ Mist spray a very small amount of olive oil over them
3/ Add to air fryer and "Fry" them
4/ Serve and enjoy without needing to deep fry (bad for your health)
5/ Air fry chips can then be eaten more than once a week !!
Also pre "bake" large potato in micro wave then crisp off in the air fryer - makes really tasty crunchy skins far faster than baking in an oven.
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Vegas Claret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Vegas Claret » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:54 pm

KateR wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:44 pm
any particular food/dishes, any recipes you can share of particular favorites?
not particularly, we've done chips, pork chops, sausages, spring rolls etc - we've done all sorts, much cheaper and healthier way of cooking. There are loads of "cooking by air fryer" videos on youtube
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Dyched
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Dyched » Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:55 pm

Wellsy1882 wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:40 pm
Had 1..got shut
Made chips taste horrid
Did you turn it on?
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KateR
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by KateR » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:03 pm

Vegas Claret wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:54 pm
not particularly, we've done chips, pork chops, sausages, spring rolls etc - we've done all sorts, much cheaper and healthier way of cooking. There are loads of "cooking by air fryer" videos on youtube
thanks, I have read the booklet with it so a couple of ideas but thought I'd ask here first, I will check u-tube and other areas to see regarding ideas.

I think one of my reasons for asking is a rarely fry anything, as you say I do this for health reasons, chips for the boys have been done in the oven for years now. I do remember the days of the old deep fat fryer though.

As a special treat occasionally when in the UK did visit the local chippy and have chips but last time will have been a couple of years ago. They have opened a "Chipper" and it get's rave revues for many Brits in Houston but it's a 45 minute drive from our place so can't see us going anytime soon, rumors abound that they are opening another, closer to downtown Houston, we will see.

Wellsy1882
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Wellsy1882 » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:03 pm

Dyched wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:55 pm
Did you turn it on?
I only had to look at it pal
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tim_noone
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by tim_noone » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:04 pm

Dyched wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:55 pm
Did you turn it on?
:lol: :lol: Lmao...

Bosscat
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Bosscat » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:06 pm

Dyched wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:55 pm
Did you turn it on?
No but he stroked its buttons 😏😏😏

Steve1956
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Steve1956 » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:22 pm

Dyched wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:55 pm
Did you turn it on?
What do you think?...did he F**k 😂
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Steve1956
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Steve1956 » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:24 pm

Get your bacon & black pudding done in the air fryer...its lovely.

Vegas Claret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Vegas Claret » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:17 pm

KateR wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:03 pm
thanks, I have read the booklet with it so a couple of ideas but thought I'd ask here first, I will check u-tube and other areas to see regarding ideas.

I think one of my reasons for asking is a rarely fry anything, as you say I do this for health reasons, chips for the boys have been done in the oven for years now. I do remember the days of the old deep fat fryer though.

As a special treat occasionally when in the UK did visit the local chippy and have chips but last time will have been a couple of years ago. They have opened a "Chipper" and it get's rave revues for many Brits in Houston but it's a 45 minute drive from our place so can't see us going anytime soon, rumors abound that they are opening another, closer to downtown Houston, we will see.
Once you've done your chips in the air fryer you will never do them in the oven again

Rowls
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Rowls » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:22 pm

dougcollins wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:36 pm
The microwave is probably the most convenient way, and absolutely the worst way, to cook anything.
Depends what you use it for.

For re-heating left over meals it's perfect.

It's very handy for defrosting stuff.

You can actually good vegetables very well in a microwave - from frozen or from fresh. They retain more vitamins if they are cooked properly this way.

scouseclaret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by scouseclaret » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:25 pm

I find it brilliant for doing stuff that should normally be fried but you tend to do in the oven if you haven’t got a deep fryer.

So, frozen chips, battered fish, scampi, chicken nuggets, onion bhajis etc all taste properly crispy, when they tend to go a bit soggy in the oven. Much healthier than oil frying obviously.

I’ve tried making “proper” chips as well, with mixed results - takes a bit of practice.

joey13
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by joey13 » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:25 pm

Rowls wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:22 pm
Depends what you use it for.

For re-heating left over meals it's perfect.

It's very handy for defrosting stuff.

You can actually good vegetables very well in a microwave - from frozen or from fresh. They retain more vitamins if they are cooked properly this way.
The microwave is devils work
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Rowls
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Rowls » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:27 pm

joey13 wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:25 pm
The microwave is devils work
It's a tool. Like these air fryers it's only as good as how it gets used.
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Firthy
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Firthy » Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:00 am

Vegas Claret wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:17 pm
Once you've done your chips in the air fryer you will never do them in the oven again
That's because oven chips are vile. I'll stick with my chip pan and beef dripping thanks.
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Rowls
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Rowls » Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:01 am

Yum yum chips cooked in beef dripping. Wish I had a working deep fat fryer.

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Garnerssoap » Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:45 am

Homemade chips in the air fryer is what we settled on. Better than the frozen ones. Also peeling a sweet potato and investing in crinkle chip chipper is my other tip. Breadcrumbed chicken comes out better than takeout.
There’s a thread somewhere else about ninja air fryers with a cauliflower Bhaji recipe I found that worked out surprisingly well.

Zlatan
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Zlatan » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:28 am

When we had one all we used it for was cooking oven chips in it. They came out much nicer than when cooked in the oven. Got rid of it because we began eating too much “convenience” type food and put weight on.

Now if we want “chips” I do a healthy alternative which is wedges (skin on) shallow fried in tea spoon of olive oil for 5-6 minutes and then transferred to an aluminium tray for 30 minutes in the oven - they’re fantastic, much nicer than oven chips, and better than anything we could do in the actifry we had. Still not a patch on proper chips though.

BenWickes
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by BenWickes » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:35 am

Our frying pan gets used a lot but it ain't half messy and when frying gammon it's a lethal weapon. Fat flying several feet across the room. The question begs, therefore; what's an air fryer like with bacon and gammon?

ottclaret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by ottclaret » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:11 am

Does great chips (ordinary and sweet potato) and onion rings (from frozen). Instructions say to soak chips in water for while, but we don't - just dry them before adding oil, a bit of salt & pepper.

Recently started cooking my chicken pieces in it (just for myself - wife has gone all vegan on me!) - lovely crispy skin (can't get that in a microwave!), and must be more economical than putting the oven on. Going to try using it for more things - chops, bacon etc.

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by rayzer » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:22 am

Ben wickets. I cook bacon in my air fryer and it's perfect. In fact when I do a breakfast I put in bacon, sausages, hash browns and black pudding. No mess. On a side note I think the term air fryer is a bit misleading. It's more like a mini fan assisted oven.
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by BenWickes » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:26 am

rayzer wrote:
Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:22 am
Ben wickets. I cook bacon in my air fryer and it's perfect. In fact when I do a breakfast I put in bacon, sausages, hash browns and black pudding. No mess. On a side note I think the term air fryer is a bit misleading. It's more like a mini fan assisted oven.
Ah right! Thanks. Might look into purchasing one.

JohnMac
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by JohnMac » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:39 am

Ours is a Tefal 'Acti Fryer'.

Obviously different to an air fryer because it has a rotating paddle to keep things moving so anything and everything gets a good kicking as it's cooking. A fish finger becomes a mass of breadcrumbs and crispy fish bits :lol:

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Jambounchained » Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:07 am

JohnMac wrote:
Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:39 am
Ours is a Tefal 'Acti Fryer'.

Obviously different to an air fryer because it has a rotating paddle to keep things moving so anything and everything gets a good kicking as it's cooking. A fish finger becomes a mass of breadcrumbs and crispy fish bits :lol:
I bought a tray thing for mine. You take the paddle out and pop that in. Makes doing anything crumbed an absolute doddle.
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Steve1956
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Steve1956 » Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:38 am

Lunch yesterday the wife tried tinned new potatoes in the air fryer..salt & pepper, oil, tinned new potatoes marinated for a few hours then chucked in the air fryer till brown and crispy
Roast spud heaven 😋

Woodleyclaret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Woodleyclaret » Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:44 am

Bacon 10 mins Burgers 14 mins Hash browns 15
Sausages 14mins little mess no cooker hob to clean brilliant

Herts Clarets
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Herts Clarets » Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:48 am

Air fryer is a bit of a misleading description, it is a mini oven. Probably not ideal if you have a large family, but i rarely use an oven now. Make your own chips in a little oil, what i have also done is mixed the peelings (washed before peeling) with a little oil and salt, give it 10 minutes and you have really tasty crisps. I have cooked a whole roast chicken, pork belly and loads of other stuff in mine. Cooks quicker than an oven and uses far less energy as you are heating a much smaller space.

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Eloise Laws » Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:52 am

The beauty of the air fryer for me is it heats quicker than my electric oven, so cuts down on electricity usage. Done lots of things like sausages, chops, fish, wedges, use the air fryer for reheating and warming through… definitely use my oven less now.
I Microwave a jacket potato then put it in the air fryer to crisp up the skin but still prefer my bacon grilled….
I use google a lot for cooking tips and ideas for the air-fryer but I wouldn’t say it’s revolutionised my cooking! Have fun finding out KateR

JohnMac
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by JohnMac » Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:58 am

I have a Ninja Dual Zone and do this using a foil tray in the drawer.

4 Crumpets spread with garlic butter, tear apart and sprinkle on your cheese of choice (mozzarella and cheddar for me).
Season with black pepper then bake at 170° for 8 minutes.

I have developed this now to add crispy bacon and sliced tomato .

pureclaret
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by pureclaret » Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:35 am

Got a Ninja dual zone for christmas from our adult children. Our youngest then reheated carrots, brussels with bacon , then the roast potatoes and parsnips had the oven on for stuffing and used our food warmers two of them with 3 warmer diches in each. cooked the turkey in the ordinary oven in the morning left to cool then carved. We had 8 for christmas meal and have found easier to have them serrve them selves and then return to the table to eat.

Have since used it to cook sausages, bacon , hash browns frozen chips , sliced potatoes . all a succses and better than oven, yes cleaning trays after use is a faff but then when we cook in the oven the dish or tray needs cleaning takes same time to clean.

I have checked the cost per miniute is cheaper than an oven by 50% but slightly more than a microwave. cooking times in air fryer between 50/75 % time of conventional fan ovens.

aggi
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by aggi » Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:25 pm

Air fryers don't fry things. They're just mini ovens with a powerful fan so things cook quicker and generally get a bit crispier.

I find it much more convenient than the oven as you don't need to preheat it, stuff cooks quicker and it's easier to clean.

The obvious stuff works well (frozen chips, battered stuff, etc) as do sausages, bacon, chops, whole chicken, potatoes, etc. If you can do it on the oven or grill/broiler then you can probably do it in the air fryer.

Claretprinter
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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Claretprinter » Tue Jan 02, 2024 1:13 pm

Frozen Mozarella sticks - 8 mins. Perfect!

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Re: Air Fryer

Post by Herts Clarets » Tue Jan 02, 2024 1:14 pm

tikka.jpg
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chicken.jpg
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Chicken tikka, pork belly and a roast chicken all done in my air fryer.

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